An overview of everything Oxford Community Television (OCTV) does and how it serves residents was given during a fireside chat held Friday afternoon at the Oxford Public Library.
Station Manager Bill Service and Production Manager Teri Stiles led the discussion.
‘We’re celebrating our 30th year this year and people in this community still don’t know that we’re here,? Stiles said.
But things are steadily improving as OCTV has been garnering thousands of views on YouTube and receiving more calls requesting coverage of events and stories.
Located at 1775 N. Lapeer Rd., OCTV covers everything local including government meetings, youth sports, community events like festivals and parades, human interest stories, new businesses and more.
On average, OCTV’s nine employees produce 32 shows per month in addition to filming approximately 100 local government meetings annually, according to Stiles.
‘Word has it that we’re becoming one of the public access stations in the state to beat,? she said. ‘Everybody’s pretty impressed with the amount of programming that we have on and that we produce.?
Service said the key to OCTV’s success is all of the content is ‘local, local, local.? The Detroit TV news stations rarely cover happenings in the Oxford area whereas that’s all OCTV does, he explained.
OCTV, which is primarily funded by the franchise fees paid by pay-television subscribers, relies on reporting that’s done in the Oxford Leader to provide a good portion of the content for its weekly news program.
‘We’re one of the only public access stations in Michigan, that I know of, that works hand-in-hand with the newspaper,? Stiles said.
Recounting stories published in the Leader on the air, according to Stiles, helps keep visually-impaired residents informed and allows OCTV to save money when it comes to staffing.
‘We’d have to have reporters out constantly (to provide all original news content) and we just can’t do that,? she said.
OCTV enhances people’s lives in a number of ways.
For folks unable to leave their homes, the station broadcasts local church services and exercise classes.
For folks unable to attend government meetings, it films the deliberations and decisions of local officials in Oxford and Addison townships along with the villages of Oxford and Leonard.
‘It’s a good way to watch what’s going on in your community and how your money is being spent and the decisions that are being made for you,? Stiles said.
Meeting footage stays on OCTV’s website for six months. After that, hard copies are available upon request for a small fee.
OCTV is working diligently to get more people involved in its day-to-day operations.
For example, after many years, the station now has a program for folks who wish to volunteer their time and learn the ins and outs of TV production.
‘We have people come in the station and they do whatever they want to help us out and to learn how to produce programming,? Stiles said. ‘We belong to the community. We belong to every one of you. And we would more than welcome people coming in to see what we’re doing there.?
Internships are available for high school and college students.
‘To date, we’ve had one (college student) go on to a major news station in Wyoming,? Stiles said. ‘We’ve had (a total of) three people move on to major jobs using us as a stepping stone.?
Stiles made it clear working at OCTV isn’t just something for young people. She said it’s also perfect for ‘somebody that wants to change careers.?
‘I was 40 years old when I decided I wanted to do this,? she noted.
The fireside chat with Service and Stiles can be viewed in its entirety on OCTV’s longest-running program, ‘Our Community Access.? The show airs Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. It airs on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.
OCTV can be viewed by Charter cable subscribers on Channel 191 and by AT&T U-verse customers on Channel 99.
‘Unfortunately, public access stations have been boosted to higher channels because of the cable companies and so, you have to search around,? Stiles said.
For more information, please visit www.occtv.org or call (248) 628-9658.
Station tours for individuals and groups are available upon request.